Mass. Keeping Existing Health Insurance Enrollment WebsiteBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts officials overseeing the state’s hobbled health care exchange decided Friday to stick with new software designed to upgrade the website rather than switching over to the federal government’s health insurance market.
For the past several months the state has adopted a “dual-track” approach that called for buying software that has powered insurance marketplaces in other states while also laying the groundwork for a switchover to the federal marketplace if necessary.
On Friday, Massachusetts Health Connector officials announced that Massachusetts will remain a state-ba...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 8, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Grannan-Doll Tags: Health Local News CBS Boston MA Health Care OBAMACARE WBZ TV Source Type: news

Doctors Link Stress To White Blood Cell ProductionBOSTON (CBS) – Chronic stress has been linked to heart disease for decades, but the exact connection hasn’t always been clear.
Does it lead to high blood pressure and that causes the heart disease?
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that your bone marrow may play a key role. Bone marrow is where blood cells are made, including white blood cells which fight off infection.
Dr. Matthias Nahrendorf and his colleagues found that in mice who were exposed to stress, their bone marrow churned out more of these white blood cells.
Researchers then looked at 29 stressed out “doctors-in-traini...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 7, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Grannan-Doll Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall HealthWatch Stress WBZ TV Source Type: news

An Epidemic: Top 10 Outbreaks In U.S. HistoryThroughout the years, epidemics and plagues have shaken up societies and cultures around the world.
The latest outbreak that Americans seem to be concerned about is the Ebola epidemic occurring in the African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. With experts and doctors saying that the outbreak has the potential to become a full-blown pandemic that will become increasingly more difficult to control, the general public is scared.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continuously keep an eye on public health and any immediate health dangers, the American public still worries about how...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 7, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbskapost Tags: Health Africa avian flu Ebola Guinea Health Scare History Measles Nigeria Source Type: news

Dana-Farber Community Vans Providing Cancer Screening In Greater BostonBOSTON (CBS) – 52-year-old Maria Teixeira gets annual mammograms on the Dana-Farber Mammography van at the Dimock Center in Roxbury.
“It’s in my neighborhood,” she said. “ It’s right here. I don’t need to take buses.”
The van travels to communities within the city of Boston as well as outlying areas like Waltham, Brockton, and Quincy.
“We work with the health center staff and they help schedule the women and all the women have to do is come to a place that they recognize and feel comfortable in,” said Magnolia Contreras, the Director of Community B...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 4, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: bostonwebintern Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Uncategorized Watch Listen Blum Family Van Cancer Screening CBS Boston Dana-Farber Community van Dana-Farber mammography van Dimock Center Dr. Mallika Marshall Skin Cancer WBZ Source Type: news

Home Remedies To Fight SunburnWho hasn’t lost track of time on the beach, only to return home to burnt, painful shoulders and a cherry-red nose? Of course, no remedy takes the place of practicing safe sun and you should avoid the damage that over-exposure will cause. We know you promise to protect your skin next time, but for now, these simple home remedies will help provide soothing relief.
Take a Quick and Cool BathPhoto Credit ThinkstockEnjoy a short soak in gently cooled water, softened with plain, unflavored oatmeal flakes or dissolved baking soda. Avoid taking a too-long soak which might further dry out your skin and don’t make the ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 4, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbsexaminer Tags: Health Spring Summer Aloe Vera Baking Soda Baths Corey Whelan Home Remedies Oatmeal Baths Sunburn Source Type: news

The Ebola Outbreak: What Every American Needs To KnowThis year has quickly become the year of the Ebola virus.
The recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa has begun attracting attention in the U.S. for good reason.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that the chances of the virus spreading to the U.S. are low, it doesn’t change how fast it is spreading.
A Fatal Disease
Ebola virus disease is fatal for humans, with a 50 to 90 percent fatality rate, and since early 2014, nearly 600 people have died and more than 1,200 have become infected with the deadly virus, including two American aid workers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 31, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbskapost Tags: Health Africa Ebola ebola virus Epidemic Guinea Liberia Nigeria Pandemic Sierra Leone Source Type: news

Cancer Patients Can Get ‘Chemo Brain'; Treatment AvailableBOSTON (CBS) – Sixty-nine-year-old Susan Harden began her battle with breast cancer six years ago. “I had surgery,” explains Susan, “And that was followed by two different rounds of chemotherapy, followed by radiation.”
Soon after her first round of chemo, Susan became confused. The former science teacher, quick-witted all her life, all of a sudden couldn’t remember how to do simple tasks.
“I walked into the bathroom,” she says, ”I took my toothbrush in my hand, and I couldn’t figure out what to do next.”
Susan went months without answers but then happened t...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 31, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Grannan-Doll Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall WBZ TV Source Type: news

Boston Hospitals Training Staff To Watch For Signs Of Ebola VirusBOSTON (CBS) – Boston hospitals are training staff to be on the lookout for warning signs of the ebola virus, which kills 90 percent of people infected.
A doctor who died from the disease in Liberia had moved there from Minnesota to work as a government official.
He was headed back to the the United States to see his wife and three small children when he got sick during a stop in Nigeria.
Some Boston hospitals are now telling staff to get travel histories from patients who may have symptoms and isolate those who may have been exposed.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
Market Basket Runs Full-Page Ads For Job ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tim Wilson Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Boston Hospitals ebola virus ebola warning signs Source Type: news

Brigham & Women’s To Offer Laughing Gas To Laboring MomsBOSTON (CBS) – Soon there will be another option to relieve the pain of childbirth at one local hospital. It’s not a new pain medication, but it’s a gas that’s been around a long time and is now making resurgence. Laughing gas or nitrous oxide. It’s been used for decades for labor pain all over the world but not here in the U.S. for a while.
“Over the last five years, there’s been a big push by childbirth providers in the United States to reintroduce the use of nitrous oxide,” says Dr. Bill Camann, the Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital....Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Brigham & Women's Hospital Dr. Bill Camann Dr. Mallika Marshall laughing gas Pregnancy Source Type: news

Birth Control Microchip Under Development By Local Research TeamCAMBRIDGE (CBS) – Local researchers are at the forefront of what could be a birth control revolution. They are working on a microchip that could control a woman’s hormones, and prevent pregnancy for up to 16 years.
Implanted under the skin and accessible by remote control, the chip can deliver tiny amounts of hormone, similar to a birth control pill.
“I think this kind of technology could have a major effect and revolutionize various aspects of medicine, including birth control,” said Dr. Bob Langer from M.I.T.
Langer is working with bio-tech firm MicroCHIPS of Lexington; they first tested the techn...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Julie Eich Tags: Business Health Innovation Economy Local News Syndicated Local Tech Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation birth control Birth Control Microchip Medical News MicroCHIPS MIT Source Type: news

School Safety Tips For Younger KidsBefore you know it, school will be back in session, which means kids all over the country will be walking to school and facing all sorts of new challenges. School should be about the education, not about learning how to be safe. However it’s a sad fact that safety is still a priority concern of many parents around the country. From walking to school and heading home alone to facing bullies and riding the bus, there are lots of different safety concerns facing children today. It’s very important to take the time to talk about these concerns with your children, before anything becomes an issue. There are plenty o...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 21, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbsexaminer Tags: Back to School Boston's Best Family & Pets Health Bullying Prevention Deborah Flomberg Password System School safety Source Type: news

Time-Saving Tips For Healthy School LunchesThose pre-portioned packs of crackers, cheese and lunch meat sure have major kid appeal, but they’re a serious drain on your wallet and none too healthy, either. The speed with which you can toss them in your child’s lunch bag sure is appealing, though. Feeling tempted to rely on them for quick and easy lunchbox packing? Think again! The following ideas can help you pack a healthy school lunch in a flash.
Related: Ask A Chef: Best Back To School Lunch Recipes
Work AheadPhoto Credit Meghan RossWhen you’ve already done a majority of the prep work, packing lunches in the evening is a snap.
Over the we...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 21, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbsexaminer Tags: Back to School Boston's Best Food & Drink Health Food and Drink healthy recipes Lunch Lunchbox Meghan Ross Spring Summer Source Type: news

Brigham Clinical Trial Using CAT Scan In Operating Room To Better Target TumorsBOSTON (CBS) – Donna Durell, 59, from New Hampshire was told she had a small lung nodule, found incidentally on a CT scan.
“They weren’t sure exactly what it was,” Durell explains. Donna was a former smoker and the concern was that the nodule might be cancerous.
Usually the options for tiny nodules are to watch them over time or undergo lung surgery with the hope that the surgeon can actually feel the tiny tumor and take it out successfully.
Durell opted to the AMIGO suite at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she had her tumor removed with unbelievable precision.
Dr. Raphael Bueno, the Ch...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 18, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Breast Cancer Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen AMIGO Suite Brigham and Women's Hospital Donna Durell Dr. Mallika Marshall Dr. Raphael Bueno Source Type: news

Mosquitoes In Bridgewater Test Positive For EEEBOSTON (CBS) – Mosquitoes in Bridgewater have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Mass. Department of Public Health announced on Friday.
The samples, collected on July 15, are the first to come back positive for EEE in the state this year.
In response, officials have raised the risk level in Bridgewater to moderate. The surrounding towns of West Bridgewater, Easton, Raynham and Middleborough are already at moderate based on last year’s EEE activity.
Guide: Ways To Protect Yourself From West Nile & EEE
EEE is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can be deadly.
Last year, a Nor...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 18, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Bridgewater EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS EEE Mosquito Triple E Source Type: news

FDA Investigates Safety Of Spray-On SunscreenBOSTON (CBS) – The Food and Drug Administration will be taking a closer look at spray sunscreens to see if they might pose health risks, especially in children.
Amanda Albee of Dorchester uses spray sunscreens on her three young children because it’s fast. “It’s a little less messy,” she says.
Lisa Turse from Framingham stopped using spray sunscreens on her two girls, partly because they’re aerosols. “The spray, I think, is going into their lungs along with everybody else’s when you spray it.”
Read: Stow Man Burned By Spray-On Sunscreen
Turse is among a growing number o...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 17, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Bernard Kinane Dorchester FDA Framingham Mass General Hospital for Children Source Type: news

Pill Appearance Change Causes Some Patients to Stop Taking Their MedicationBOSTON (CBS) - Brand name drugs and generic drugs are equally effective, but they can have different shapes, colors, and sizes.
Researchers wanted to know if a change in the appearance of pills could cause people to stop taking their medications. Turns out, it can.
Dr. Aaron Kesselheim, an internist and healthy policy expert at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, studied thousands of people after a heart attack and found that when patients received a generic drug that differed in shape or color from their previous one, they were about 30% more likely to stop filling it.
Dr. Kesselheim says people rely heavily on...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 14, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: bostonwebintern Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Dr. Aaron Kesselheim Dr. Mallika Marshall Medication Pharmacies Pharmacy Pill Appearance Pills Prescription WBZ TV Source Type: news

MGH Researchers Discover UV Radiation May Be AddictiveBOSTON (CBS) – New research from Mass General Hospital shows there may be something addictive about UV radiation.
Michael Barrett and Michele Milisi from Dorchester enjoy spending time in the sun.
“It makes me feel good when the sun is out,” Michele says.
“I think all of us being from New England, we enjoy when spring and summer come,” Michael says.
But some people seem to crave UV radiation, whether from the sun or tanning beds more than others.
“There are probably thousands and thousands of people who are addicted to the sun,” says Dr. David Fisher, Chairman of Dermatology at ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 10, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Addiction Dr. Mallika Marshall Heroin Mass General Hospital Melanoma Narcan Skin Cancer Sun tanning bed UV radiation Source Type: news

Tips For Preventing Child Deaths In Hot Cars(AP/CBS Boston) – More than three dozen children die of hyperthermia in cars annually in the United States, and since 1998 more than 500 children have died in hot cars. Heatstroke can happen when the temperature is as low as 57 degrees, and car interiors can reach well over 110 degrees even when the outside temperature is in the 60s.
Here are some tips from safety advocates on avoiding accidental deaths in hot cars from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and kidsandcars.org:
— Never leave children alone in a vehicle to run even a short errand. Use drive-thru windows at banks, dry cleaners ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 9, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbskapost Tags: Autos Health Car Car Death Car Deaths Child Children Heat Summer Source Type: news

Tufts Study: Secondhand Smoke As Harmful To Pets As To PeopleLOS ANGELES (AP) — Ten years ago, Shirley Worthington rushed Tigger to the vet when the dog’s mouth started bleeding. When she was told he had cancer, she knew to blame her heavy smoking, an addiction she couldn’t kick until after her pet died.
Secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs, malignant lymphoma in cats and allergy and respiratory problems in both animals, according to studies done at Tufts University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, Colorado State University and other schools.
The number of pets that die each year from tobacco exposure isn’t available...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 9, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Animals Pets secondhand smoke Study Tufts Source Type: news

Mass. DPH Considering Marijuana Dispensary For BostonBOSTON (AP) — State health officials are considering proposals for medical marijuana operations in some of Massachusetts’ largest urban centers and tourist destinations.
The state Public Health Department is holding an informational meeting Wednesday in Boston as it plans to license marijuana dispensaries in counties that currently do not have a project in the pipeline.
Those seven counties cover Boston, the Fall River/New Bedford region and Springfield, as well as the Berkshires, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Only four companies have initially been invited to apply: Coastal Compassion, JCS Holdings, M...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 9, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Boston Medical Marijuana Source Type: news

Two NH Residents Test Positive For Chikungunya VirusCONCORD, N.H. (CBS) – New Hampshire health officials are reporting two cases of the Chikungunya virus in people.
Both people had recently traveled to the Caribbean, where outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness have been occurring.
The two cases mark the only identified cases in New Hampshire of the virus to date. This past weekend, Boston health officials reported four cases among residents, and last month, RI health officials reported two cases.
The most common symptoms of Chikungunya infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. It is typically not ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 8, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Caribbean CBS Boston Chikungunya Mosquitoes New Hampshire Virus WBZ Source Type: news

Energy Drinks Causing Dental Disease In Young AthletesBOSTON (CBS) – Jon Salisbury from Billerica played sports for years.
“I played soccer in high school for four years. I ran track for four years,” Jon said. “And I played soccer in college for three years.”
The last injury he thought he’d suffer was one to his teeth.
“I’m 25. I’ve had two root canals already,” Jon said.
Root canals at such a young age? From playing sports? Well, not from the sports per se. But it’s what young athletes are drinking while playing sports that is doing the damage.
“On any given day, I’d drink at least half a gallo...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 7, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Grannan-Doll Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Athletes CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall Sugary Drinks WBZ TV Source Type: news

Four Boston Residents Test Positive For Chikungunya VirusBOSTON (CBS) – Four Boston residents have tested positive for the Chikungunya virus, city health officials confirmed on Saturday.
The illness, which only first turned up in the Americas last year, is transmitted by mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes carrying Chikungunya are common in parts of Africa and Asia. They have recently been found on several Caribbean islands and a handful of central and South American countries, but have not turned up in the continental U.S.
Health officials say all four patients had traveled to Caribbean islands recently. They said the cases were not connected.
There is no vaccine to prevent or medici...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 5, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Boston Chikungunya Virus Mosquitoes Source Type: news

U.S. Supreme Exempts Businesses From Contraception MandateWASHINGTON (CBS/AP) – A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that some companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, the first time the high court has declared that businesses can hold religious views under federal law.
The justices’ 5-4 decision, splitting conservatives and liberals, means the Obama administration must search for a different way of providing free contraception to women who are covered under the health insurance plans of objecting companies.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion, over ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 2, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: cbskapost Tags: Affordable Care Act Health birth control contraception Hobby Lobby President Obama Religion Supreme Court Source Type: news

Mass. Lawmakers Pass Compounding Pharmacy BillBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers have given final approval to a bill overhauling the oversight of compounding pharmacies.
The bill stemmed from a nationwide meningitis outbreak that authorities blamed on a tainted steroid produced by the now-closed New England Compounding Center in Framingham. The outbreak resulted in 64 deaths and hundreds of illnesses.
The bill reorganizes the board that oversees the pharmacies and requires it to participate in any national reporting systems on pharmacies, pharmacists and technicians. It also requires board inspectors be trained in sterile compounding and non-sterile compoundi...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Compounding pharmacies Meningitis outbreak New England Compounding Center Source Type: news

Rejected Cambridge Pot Dispensary Applicant To Appeal RulingCAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — The head of a company seeking to set up a medical marijuana dispensary in Cambridge says he plans to appeal the decision by the Department of Public Health to overturn its earlier agreement to license his firm.
John Greene is the CEO of The Greeneway Wellness Foundation that was among 20 applicants who received provisional licenses in January. The process was eventually suspended while the state verified information provided by the approved applicants.
Greene said on Saturday that state public health officials cited inadequate financial capital in rejecting his application Friday.
Greene argue...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Local News Politics Cambridge Greeneway Wellness Foundation john greene Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Source Type: news

Mass. Medical Marijuana Shops Get Initial Clearance, Others RejectedBOSTON (AP) — Eleven medical marijuana dispensaries have been cleared to move forward in Massachusetts while several others that had received initial clearance were rejected after a further review, state public health officials announced Friday.
The process had been on hold for several months while the state worked to verify information provided in the applications of 20 companies that were initially given provisional clearance for licenses in January.
Karen Van Unen, head of the state’s medical marijuana program, said the 11 remaining dispensaries survived the enhanced investigation process but will still be s...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Grannan-Doll Tags: Health Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Local Politics Watch Listen Bernice Corpuz CBS Boston DPH Massachusetts Medical Marijuana WBZ TV WILLIAM DELAHUNT Source Type: news

Former Professor Approved For Double Arm Transplant In BostonBOSTON (CBS) – A man who who survived a devastating illness has been approved for a double arm transplant.
Will Lautzenheiser, a former professor of film and screenwriting at Boston University developed a bacterial infection back in 2011 causing him to lose both his arms and legs.
He documented his experience in a short film called “Stumped.”
“After losing limbs, I haven’t been able to do anything spontaneously,” Lautzenheiser said. “It might take me 20 minutes to get myself dressed.”
“The frontiers are advancing and moving forward and we’re able to restore the ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 26, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Brigham And Woman's Hospital Dr. Bohdan Pomahac Dr. Mallika Marshall Simon Talbot Will Lautzenheiser Source Type: news

BU, Brigham And Women’s Part Of National Landmark Alzheimer’s Disease StudyBOSTON (CBS) – Alzheimer’s dementia affects five million Americans and those numbers are growing exponentially.
Now scientists around the country, including here in Boston, are launching a landmark study to try to stop the disease before it takes hold.
Betty Simino recently lost her mother to Alzheimer’s and felt helpless as she watched her mother deteriorate over time.
“Not being to help her,” explains Simino. “I could help her and do her fingernails and comb her hair and talk to her and hold her hand, but there was nothing I could do.”
Now at the age of 71, Simino could be facing...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 25, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen A4 Study Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Boston University Brigham & Women's Hospital Doctor Mallika Marshall Protein Solanezumab Source Type: news

Hairless Man Grows Full Head Of Hair In Yale Arthritis Drug TrialBOSTON (CBS) – Scientists at Yale may have discovered quite the off-label use for an FDA-approved arthritis drug.
During a trial, which stretched for eight months, a 25-year-old man with almost no hair on his body grew a full head following treatment with the drug. He reported no noticeable side effects.
The patient was suffering from a rare, highly visible disease known as alopecia universalis, which has no cure or approved long term treatment.
The disease causes the loss of almost all body hair.
According to scientists involved in the trial, the patient also grew eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial, armpit, and other h...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 19, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Local Syndicated Local Watch Listen alopecia universalis Arthritis brett king tofacitinib citrate Yale Source Type: news

Longterm Use of Heartburn Medication May Lead To Bone LossBOSTON (CBS) – Grace Tejchman has been taking heartburn medications for nine years now. She says she needs the relief from some difficult symptoms.
“If I don’t take it, the acid backs up and I have severe heartburn and a ball in my throat,” she said.
The relief comes from a group of drugs known as Proton Pump Inhibitors. They’re excellent at controlling heartburn by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. These drugs are sold as Prevacid, Nexium, and Prilosec.
Many of these medications started as prescriptions in the late 1980s, but are currently available over the counter. Now th...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 17, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: miketoole Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Bone Loss CBS Boston Dr. Blair Jobe Dr. Mallika Marshall Heartburn Medication Proton Pump Inhibitors WBZ TV Source Type: news

‘Bionic Pancreas’ For Diabetics Developed At MGH, BU Makes ProgressBOSTON (CBS/AP) – Last fall, WBZ introduced you to the “bionic pancreas”, and now new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows it can do what it was designed to do.
Ed Damiano is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. He has spent years worrying about his 15-year-old son, David, who has Type 1 Diabetes, and sometimes develops low blood sugar at night, which can be deadly. “He sleeps through any particular disturbance you can muster, including low blood sugar,” says Damiano.
So he and a colleague developed the “bionic pancreas”,...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 16, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: miketoole Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Watch Listen bionic pancreas Boston University CBS Boston Diabetes Dr. Mallika Marshall Massachusetts General Hospital New England Journal Of Medicine Source Type: news

November Project Gets Thousands In Shape For FreeBOSTON (CBS) – What started as an idea one November night in a bar has quickly turned into a revolution in the workout world.
It’s called the November Project and it has thousands getting in shape all around the country.
The free program was born in Boston and is a mix of hard core workouts and community.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday hundreds of people show up to various spots around town to get their sweat on.
The day we visited, the group was at Harvard Stadium. Co-founders Brogan Graham and Bojan Mandaric spent an hour yelling, screaming and hugging hundreds of strangers as they scaled the steps ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 16, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: miketoole Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Bojan Mandaric Brogan Graham CBS Boston Kate Merrill November Project Source Type: news

‘Bionic Pancreas’ For Diabetics Developed At MGH, BUScientists have made big progress on a “bionic pancreas” to free some people with diabetes from the daily ordeal of managing their disease. A wearable, experimental device passed a real-world test, constantly monitoring blood sugar and automatically giving insulin or a sugar-boosting drug as needed, doctors said Sunday.
The device improved blood-sugar control more than standard monitors and insulin pumps did when tested for five days on 20 adults and 32 teens. Unlike other artificial pancreases in development that just correct high blood sugar, this one also can fix too-low sugar, mimicking what a natural pancr...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 16, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: miketoole Tags: Health Local News bionic pancreas Boston University CBS Boston Diabetes Massachusetts General Hospital New England Journal Of Medicine WBZ Source Type: news

2 Cases Of New Mosquito-Borne Virus In Rhode IslandPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island health officials are reporting the first confirmed cases of a nasty mosquito-borne virus that has been rapidly spreading in the Caribbean.
Officials say the two confirmed cases of chikungunya (chik-un-GUHN-ya) involve travelers who returned from the Dominican Republic on May 17 and May 29. Authorities are still investigating several other cases.
CDC Information: Chikungunya
Chikungunya causes high fevers and joint pain but is rarely fatal.
There is no vaccine and the main treatment is pain medication.
A spokesman on Saturday said the Rhode Island Department of Health will not...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 14, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: miketoole Tags: Health Local News Caribbean CBS Boston Chikungunya Dominican Republic Mosquitoes Rhode Island Virus WBZ Source Type: news

“Star Wars” Arm Called A Game-Changer For AmputeesBOSTON (CBS) – It’s amazing technology out of DEKA, the New Hampshire company founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and many other medical devices. It’s a high-tech prosthesis, and for soldiers who lost an arm in war, it’s being called a “game-changer”.
The “Luke Arm”, named after the artificial arm that Luke Skywalker received in Star Wars, is built from tiny computers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, 3-D printed materials. It’s equipped with six pre-programmed grips and controlled by wireless sensors in the shoes, much like a joystick. Roll a foot to one side ...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Tech Atlantic Prosthetics Dean Kamen DEKA Dr. Mallika Marshall Luke Arm Star Wars Source Type: news

All About Long Term Care InsuranceBOSTON (CBS) – Long-term care is a variety of services that includes medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care is to assist people with support services for activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. Long-term care can be provided at home, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes.
According to Genworth Financial’s Long Term Care survey, the national average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home is around $75,000 and it costs over $126,000 here in Massachusetts.
A recent study found that people who reac...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: karenebuscemi Tags: ACA Information Affordable Care Act Business Health Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Money Matters With Dee Lee Watch Listen Your Home Anthony Silva Finances Financial Advice Financial Help Financial Planning Genworth Financial Help Source Type: news

‘Elimination Diets’ Could Do More Harm Than GoodBOSTON (CBS) — The newest diet craze is about looking and feeling better.
When new mom Jessica Lee Anderson decided to go on a diet, it wasn’t all about losing the post-baby weight.
“I ate a lot of processed food, I ate a lot of fast food and I had just gotten so tired,” she said. “I wasn’t feeling very well.”
So Jessica decided on her own, to eliminate a bunch of food from her diet, like wheat, eggs, nuts, and most processed foods.
“Eliminating certain things in the diet had helped other individuals so I figured, what the heck, let’s give it a chance,” she said.
...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 9, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall Elimination Diets Source Type: news

“White Eye” Photos May Be Sign Of Serious DiseaseBOSTON (CBS) – “Red Eyes” are a common frustration when it comes to taking pictures. But doctors are warning parents that “White Eyes” in a child’s photo can be an indication of a serious medical condition.
In rare cases, it can be a sign of retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye. “It can spread outside the eye and be fatal if it is not picked up,” said Dr. Michael Hunt, a pediatric eye specialist.
That was Makenzie Foreman’s diagnosis. She had tumors in her left eye and began chemotherapy when she was just six months old. Her eye eventually had to be removed.
“It w...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 7, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Cancer Dr. Mallika Marshall retinoblastoma white eye Source Type: news

Asthma Misdiagnosis Sidelines Many Young AthletesBOSTON (CBS) – Beth Radcliffe is your typical active high school sophomore. But in 8th grade the Holliston teen began struggling to breathe while playing her favorite sports. “It was really frightening because I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t know what to do,” says Beth.
She was first diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, then full blown asthma, and given an inhaler but she still had trouble keeping up. “There was definitely a point when I didn’t think I’d be able to continue on with sports.”
Beth didn’t need an inhaler she needed to see a speech p...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 6, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Asthma Dr. Mallika Marshall Holliston Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion PVFM Source Type: news

Fruits And Vegetables May Not Prevent CancerBOSTON (CBS) – Who hasn’t heard that eating a lot of fruits and vegetables can help you fend off cancer?
Dr. Walter Willett, a leading expert on nutrition and health at the Harvard School of Public Health, says your diet may play less of a role in cancer prevention as originally thought. “As better data have come along,” he says, “the benefits for cancer don’t look nearly as impressive.”
And fat doesn’t appear to be as bad as once thought for promoting cancer either. “There had been a strong belief that fat in our diet was the major cause of breast cancer, colon cancer,...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 5, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: deanreddington Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Cancer Dr. Mallika Marshall Dr. Walter Willett Fruit Vegetables Source Type: news

Do Gluten-Free Diets Benefit Those Without Celiac Disease?BOSTON (CBS) — For more than two decades, 45-year old Sharone Jelden was constantly sick. She had stomach aches, joint pains, chronic fatigue, and anemia.
“I was having a wide variety of symptoms for a very long time,” she says.
Three years ago, Jelden was finally diagnosed with Celiac disease. Within two weeks of starting a strict gluten-free diet, all of her symptoms went away.
“The gluten-free diet for celiacs is like insulin for diabetics,” says Dr. Alessio Fasano, a world-renowned Celiac expert at Mass. General Hospital and author of the new book “Gluten Freedom.”
Dr. Fasano s...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - June 4, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Celiac Disease Dr. Mallika Marshall Source Type: news

Mass. Health Officials See Rise In Sports Concussion-Related ER VisitsBOSTON (CBS) – The Massachusetts health department says the number of emergency room visits for head injuries is going up. And that includes concussions that happen while playing sports.
Emma Harrington, a soccer player at Bishop Fenwick in Peabody knows way too much about concussions.
“My last one was the worst one,” Emma said. “I jumped up for a ball and got tangled up with a girl, and landed on my back with my head. I don’t remember the first few days after, but I was in a lot of pain. I was in dark rooms; I didn’t talk to anyone, no phone, nothing.”
A concussion happens when th...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - May 29, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: steve saleeba Tags: Health Healthwatch Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Watch Listen brain injury Concussions Dr. Grant Iverson Dr. Mallika Marshall home base program Source Type: news

Antidepressant May Be New Alternative To Treat Hot FlashesBOSTON (CBS) — Seventy percent of menopausal women experience hot flashes and night sweats, and for years, estrogen has been the gold standard for treatment. A new study now shows another medication is essentially just as effective.
Dr. Hadine Joffe, a menopause expert at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and others looked at over 339 women experiencing menopausal symptoms bad enough to interfere with their daily lives.
They found that low-dose venlafaxine, also known as Effexor and often used to treat depression and anxiety, performed almost as well as low-dose estrogen in controlling the severity and fr...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - May 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Healthwatch Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Brigham And Womens CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall Hot Flashes Nigh Sweats Source Type: news

Study Released On Health Impacts Of Logan AirportThis study began in 2002 but has been held up for years because of funding cuts.
The study did not find a statistically significant increase in other respiratory, cardiovascular, and noise-related effects on health.
DPH’s study recommends that Massport expand their efforts with community health centers within the high exposure area to better address respiratory health, notably among children in closest proximity to the airport. Similar initiatives should be considered in consultation with local communities that would serve to further reduce the burden of air pollution on residents in closest proximity to the airport,...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - May 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Healthwatch Local News Syndicated Local CBS Boston Department Of Health Logan Airport WBZ Source Type: news

Salad Bars Vanish From Boston SchoolsBOSTON (CBS) – Teaching kids about good nutrition is a life lesson, but in Boston Public Schools salad bars have vanished. The move is leaving a sour taste for many parents, as well as the mayor.
With First Lady Michelle Obama pushing healthy foods in school, half a dozen Boston schools were among those who bought into lunchroom salad bars in the battle against childhood obesity. A couple years later, none remain – to the chagrin of parents hoping to pry their kids away from junk food.
“My little one’s not in school yet, but I’d hope by the time he gets there that they’d have healthy opt...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - May 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Julie Eich Tags: Education Health Local News Syndicated Local Boston Public Schools Childhood Obesity Healthy Eating mayor marty walsh Salad Bar Source Type: news

Study Finds Teen Back Injuries On The RiseBOSTON (CBS) — Many young athletes are pushing themselves harder than ever before. And that can mean serious injuries.
“It was like an automatic, really sharp pain in the lower left side of my back. And then after that I felt really stiff and it was like hard for me to even walk,” says Stephanie Vigliotti.
The high school basketball player was shocked when that sharp pain turned out to be a broken bone in her lower back.
“We were devastated. There were a lot of tears,” says Stephanie’s mom, Patrice.
Stephanie’s doctor, Dr. Thomas Sisk, says teen athletes with injured backs now make...Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - May 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Mallika Marshall Stephanie Vigliotti. teen back injuries Source Type: news